UK government sends extra consular staff following its decision to halt air travel in and out of Egyptian resort amid Russian airliner crash investigation

The suspension of flights in and out of Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt after the crash of a Russian airliner will affect around 20,000 British travellers who are in the Red Sea resorts of the Sinai Peninsula.

The UK foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, said his government is now advising against all but essential travel through Sharm el-Sheikh airport in Egypt as there is a “significant possibility” that the Airbus that crashed over the Sinai on Saturday, killing all 224 people on board, was brought down by an explosion on board.

The remarks were the strongest yet by an official on the cause of the crash. US officials have also suggested a bomb was planted on the plane by Islamic State (Isis) or an Isis affiliate, according to several media reports citing unnamed sources.